Child Custody

Don was born and raised in Kalamazoo, Michigan and graduated from Kalamazoo Christian High School in 1989. He attended Hope College in Holland, Michigan and graduated with a BA in Psychology/Sociology in 1993. In 1994, Don went to work as a child abuse investigator with the Michigan Department of Social Services, where he assisted hundreds of abused and neglected children and their families. In 2000, Don was promoted to management, making him the youngest Children's Protective Services Supervisor in Michigan at that time. In 2002, Don graduated magna cum laude and earned his juris doctorate degree from Michigan State University - Detroit College of Law in East Lansing, Michigan. In 2006, he went to work with the Kalamazoo County Prosecutor's Office, where he prosecuted felonies and misdemeanors in district and circuit courts. He also handled mental health commitment hearings in the Kalamazoo County Probate Court and the Kalamazoo Psychiatric Hospital. When out of the office, Don enjoys spending time with his wife, Mindie, and two children. Don is a coach for his children's soccer, basketball and baseball teams and is a Sunday School teacher at Haven Church in Kalamazoo. Don is also involved in the Kalamazoo County Bar Association as the co-chair of the Young Lawyer's Section. He also enjoys working out and practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Louis I. Newman has been a member of the New York Bar since 1968 and has negotiated and tried hundreds of cases, including matrimonial cases which are cited for various precedents. He has represented professional athletes, celebrities and judges in New York State in their divorces. He has been called upon to testify as an expert witness regarding New York divorce law and participated as a panelist in Continuing Legal Education courses.

For the first half of her career, Debra Whitson was a prosecutor, and she spent the latter half specializing in Matrimonial and Family Law. She is an experienced mediator and collaborative divorce practitioner as well as a recognized expert in working with victims of domestic violence. Debra believes that legal battles are more harmful to families than helpful, and is passionate about helping people find ways to make their own decisions for their families, rather than leaving their outcomes in the hands of a stranger in a black robe. When court is unavoidable, Debra aims to educate and support people to make the legal process less costly, scary, uncertain, and stressful.

An adoptive parent himself, Gregory Franklin has experienced first-hand the challenges and joys of adopting a child. Adoptions involve a highly emotional area of law in which any legal misstep can cause devastating effects. With more than 20 years of adoption experience, Greg's goal is to develop a legally secure plan that serves the best interests of the child and respects the wishes and interests of both the adoptive parents and the birth parents. Greg works extensively with Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual and transgendered clients, and has represented clients in cases which have broken new ground in this area. Greg is passionate about adoptions — he is a frequent lecturer and author on ethics and adoption-related topics and he works tirelessly to achieve a positive result for adoption families. In his representation of birth parents, Greg will assist in locating adoptive parents, negotiating open adoption and post-adoption contact agreements, and coordinating the process with the hospital and the adoptive parents. Greg has considerable experience in the developing area of assisted fertility, including surrogacy and gestational carrier agreements, donor embryos and eggs, and in obtaining parentage and pre-birth orders. Greg also helps to create permanent families through stepparent and co-parent adoptions, grandparent adoptions, extended-family custody agreements, foster care arrangements and international adoptions. He will assist in selecting the right avenue for achieving adoption goals, including the decision about whether to pursue domestic or international adoption, the choice between agency and private adoptions, selecting home study resources, managing subsidy and Adoption Tax Credit issues, and locating post-adoption services. If you or someone you know is interested in adoption or assisted fertility, please contact our firm to schedule a consultation with Greg. To learn more about Greg's adoption practice, please visit his adoption website at www.AdoptionNY.com

Douglas Jones is a Probate Lawyer proudly serving Canton, Ohio and the neighboring communities.

Derek Liss, Esq. is a partner at Segal, Berk, Gaines and Liss who specializes in personal injury cases, specifically focusing on auto accidents, premise liability and slip and fall cases. He also handles all of the family law cases which includes divorce, child custody, child support, spousal support and protection from abuse. Mr. Liss graduated from The George Washington University with his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science degree in 1991 and went on to graduate in 1994 from the Widener School of Law with his Juris Doctor degree. He joined the law firm of Segal, Berk, Gaines and Liss immediately following his graduation from Widener and has over 20 years of experience. Mr. Liss handles cases in Philadelphia, Montgomery County, Delaware County, Bucks County, Chester County and Berks County. He is admitted to practice in the courts of Pennsylvania and The United Stated District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Philadelphia Bar Association including their Family Law Section. In his free time, Mr. Liss enjoys coaching little league and basketball for the Whitpain Township.

Lauren H Kane is an attorney that cares about each and every client she represents. While many lawyers work 9 to 5 and view the law as just another job, for Lauren Kane the law is a "calling". She is dedicated to providing aggressive representation to secure and redress the rights of her clients. One of Lauren's primary areas of interest and commitment is family law. She is a strong advocate for her clients while seeking an amicable and fair resolution in family law and divorce cases.

Mark S. Cochran exclusively practices Family Law, which includes divorce, visitation establishment and enforcement, child support establishment and enforcement, modification, custody, paternity, contempt, pre-marital agreements, step-parent adoption, and other child and family-related matters. Mr. Cochran has extensive litigation experience, and is qualified and capable of the trial of complex or large estates. We believe it is essential that a client be fully informed of his or her options and the progress of the case. We zealously represent our clients' interests while frankly advising as to the reality of the clients' expectations, given the specific circumstances of the case. Although Mr. Cochran is a trial attorney, we acknowledge that most family law matters are best settled and resolved prior to trial. Settlement, when fairly done, can save a client significant time and money. Settlement also allows the parties to have total control over the decision-making involving their children and property. Each attorney, therefore, has extensive experience in alternate dispute resolution, including mediation, settlement conferences, access facilitation and old-fashioned negotiation between lawyers. While encouraging alternate dispute resolution, we recognized that certain cases and issues must be tried by a Judge or jury, and are prepared to do so. Most importantly, we believe that an effective family law attorney must work to resolve problems, not create conflict and escalate hostilities.

Leslie is the owner of The Werner Law Group. After obtaining her MBA from the University of Detroit, Leslie relocated to Texas with a hometown friend, in search of the American dream. Acting on her long-held desire to become a lawyer, Leslie enrolled in the University of Houston’s Law Center and obtained her law degree in 1984. A few years later, Leslie became board certified in civil appellate law. Leslie fiercely opposes cases in which she feels justice has not been served. Leslie represents individuals in all areas of family law (child custody, adoptions, divorce, and more), wills and probate, real estate, as well as chapter 7 and 13 bankruptcies. Being a small business owner, Leslie always welcomes clients who are small business owners themselves and who may need legal representation obtaining licensure or litigating disputes. Leslie takes a child-first approach to helping families in transitions. As a mother of two and having been through a divorce herself, Leslie knows the emotional importance of balancing the needs of children with the desire to receive a fair property settlement. As a certified mediator, Leslie values productive compromise and understands what it takes to resolve difficult conflicts. During her free time, Leslie enjoys quilting, bowling, and working on DIY projects with her husband and business manager, Mike Hughes.

Any lawyer can work you out a deal. Only a lawyer with experience and a reputation as a fighter can get you the best outcome. Don't plea bargain away your future. I am first and most importantly - a trial lawyer. This means I actually argue cases in State, Federal and Military Courts. My focus is on fighting and winning at trial. I do not screen out or decline cases merely because they may be distasteful or complex. I will take your case if I believe that I can help you achieve a positive outcome. I was born and raised in El Paso, Texas. After attending school and my active duty service, I returned to El Paso. I am a graduate of Ysleta High School, the New Mexico Military Institute, and the University of Houston. I received my law degree from Temple University School of Law in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I am a solo practitioner and my primary office is located in El Paso, Texas. I am willing to travel to other states and even internationally when called upon. I am licensed and qualified to practice law by: Supreme Court of Texas (State Bar No. 24010247) The State Bar of Texas The Federal District Court for the Western District of Texas The Federal District Courts for the State of Colorado The Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit The Court of Criminal Appeals for the Armed Forces The United States Supreme Court After law school I worked as an Assistant District Attorney for El Paso County for nearly a year. I then resumed my career with the U.S. Army in the Judge Advocate General's Corps (JAG). I retired from the Army in 2014 after 25 years of service. During my Army career I had the opportunity to prosecute and defend soldiers in cases worldwide. My career included deployments to Europe with the 1st Armored Division, and the Middle East, with the 1st Infantry Division. It is not my practice to take on a high volume of cases and plead them out as quickly as possible. I also don't refuse cases because they are hard. Lots of lawyers cherry pick cases so that they can build stats. I don't keep stats - I represent individuals and everyone's case is different. Everyone's case is unique and what is best for you might not be the same as what is best for the next person. I look at your interests, the facts and circumstances of the case, and the realistic possibilities. My goal is to provide the best representation possible, tailored to your needs and objectives. Although I cannot guarantee any particular outcome (and nothing on this website should be construed as a guarantee of any certain result in any case), I do promise you will get my best.